jenna30
Initiate Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 21:04:11 GMT -5
Posts: 91
|
Post by jenna30 on Jan 27, 2011 13:39:54 GMT -5
|
|
mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,958
|
Post by mizbear on Jan 27, 2011 13:43:38 GMT -5
I am trying to declutter and simplify too. The problem is I am also losing weight and I am have like 3 sizes of jeans, 2 sizes of dress pants; you get he picture. I am afraid to get rid of too many clothes because I can't afford to replace the clothes. I am setting up a landing strip for my keys and mail, etc; took all of my CDs out of the cases and placed them in a bulk CD case, gave away my extra glassware to someone who is moving- but I still feel like I have a ton of stuff.
|
|
yogiii
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 19:38:00 GMT -5
Posts: 5,377
|
Post by yogiii on Jan 28, 2011 12:15:08 GMT -5
jenna - thanks for that link!
|
|
jenna30
Initiate Member
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 21:04:11 GMT -5
Posts: 91
|
Post by jenna30 on Jan 28, 2011 12:45:56 GMT -5
Sure. My mom passed it along to me. It's amazing how we end up getting the most random catalogs. My step-son got an American Girl catalog.
:shakes head:
|
|
Honeylioness
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:09:59 GMT -5
Posts: 244
|
Post by Honeylioness on Jan 28, 2011 13:09:33 GMT -5
The problem I have with getting rid of stuff is probably more emotional and upbringing than time or desire.
My grandparents, who suffered through the Depression, were a big influence in my life when I was growing up. I absorbed the idea that you don't get rid of anything functional because you never knew when it would come in handy or be needed.
Now my grandfather took this to extremes - where even if he purchased a new toaster or other such item, he would hold onto the old one for potential parts or in case the new one stopped working. So I find myself falling into the same pattern "What if I need this in a week/month? This will probably be useful to have someday" .... so back it goes into the drawer/closet.
I also have a problem throwing away certain items - and prefer to donate them. However in my neighborhood it is not as easy as in others - though that really should not be an excuse. Escpecially clothing - it has to be incredibly stained or damaged before I will toss it into the trash. Even then I am more likely than not to salvage the buttons from it.
I don't go through my clothes, as in wear them out, all that quickly. I tend to buy solid colors in non-trendy styles that I then wear forever. The problem there is I have outgrown quite a few things and have a hard time letting them go. The tape in my head says "Someday you will lose those XX pounds THEN you will be sorry you got rid of that XXXXXX so fast". Of course I have been "meaning" to lose weight for over five years with no focus yet.
And does anyone else have the issue of emotions around their objects? Where you have a hard time letting go of ______ because it was given to you by a certain person (even if you don't even talk to them anymore), or was worn on that amazing date, or was such a good deal when you bought it 10 years ago ......
This is my biggest issue - the emotional ties I seem to have with many of my "things" which makes giving them away really really difficult for me. While at the same time living with so much "stuff" is starting to effect my psyche in a not-good way I believe.
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Jan 28, 2011 13:39:00 GMT -5
Honey: I have the exact opposite problem. I have very little emotional attachment to anything. It's been an issue in my marriage before. I tend to be a bit of a cold hearted you know what. DH is the one that has to force me to keep things. He is letting up on that now and is willing to let things go. But I could live with a mattress on a floor and clothes out of a suitcase and I don't think it would bother me. My mom saved everything (as does my grandma). I hated having to share my bedroom closet with my mom's Christmas decorations or clothes and that. I wanted only my stuff in my space.
|
|
|
Post by boosmom on Jan 28, 2011 13:53:54 GMT -5
honeylioness - I have had similar issues. If you watch the show Hoarders on A&E, this is exactly the same type of issues that those people are dealing with, and you get to see the extreme end of the spectrum of the results of that kind of thinking. So, it really has been helpful to me to trying to go through the clutter. I definitely try to recycle and donate items vs. just trashing them. But, I have a relative who is a hoarder and in denial. While it's not A&E extreme, it is significant and affects your entire well-being, and I don't ever want to get to that level of hoarding. If I can donate the item, I am much less likely to hang onto an item because I know someone else will get use out of it.
Perhaps, you could set a date each month where you drive by a recycle/donation site, or if you can call Salvation Army/Goodwill, they do send trucks to pick up donations.
Also, you may want to consider picking up some books from the library about hoarding. It helps you practice the thought processes necessary to break the compulsions.
I also like watching Clean House, but I realized that the house isn't as clutter free as the show presents, when I saw all the containers of crap that the homeowners kept that the producers had to keep outside the house while Neecy was showing off the re-do for one episode.
|
|
jando
Established Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 20:55:57 GMT -5
Posts: 327
|
Post by jando on Jan 29, 2011 10:48:53 GMT -5
A few things that get me thinking about organizing and purging -
If my house was flooded/damaged/whatever and I had to come back and clean it out and try to salvage somethings, what things currently sitting around would I be most irritated at having to clean and throw away while thinking, I should have just gotten rid of this stuff ages ago? (A: A bunch of books in boxes in my basement, at the moment.)
A few months ago I had something break..and now I almost can't remember what it was...but it was something my grandmother gave me, but it wasn't particularly sentimental. Just something that had been sitting on my dresser forever. I had a bit of relief throwing it away because I wasn't attached to it, yet felt obligated to hold onto it. I don't want to feel obligated to a "thing". That helped me get rid of a few more things that people had given me, but I didn't really care about.
The Outbox - box, bag, whatever. Have a place to put items as you are cleaning that you think or know you should get rid of but can't quite emotionally detach from yet. That way, you still have time to think about it and you can pull it back from the outbox if you want, but chances are, 90% or more of the stuff you put in the outbox you'll be ready to donate in a week or two. It helps you mentally and emotionally detach.
|
|
constanz22
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:32:17 GMT -5
Posts: 4,219
|
Post by constanz22 on Jan 29, 2011 12:18:36 GMT -5
I struggle with many of the same issues that Honey describes. The clutter is overtaking my life and I can't stand it, but I can't deal with it either. I moved 3 years ago and I can not even begin to describe the crap I got rid of then....sold, gave away, took to SA or just set at the curb. And, others are right, I could probably only name about a dozen things in ALL THAT crap that is gone. Out of all of it, the only thing I regretted getting rid of was my bread machine, but have since replaced it...bought it from a friend who was selling it. I still have a basement FULL of crap that I moved here that I am not using, have barely looked at, don't have room for, but can't bring myself to get rid of. Every room is full, every cabinet and drawer is full, every surface is covered. It's not to the point of "Hoarders" but it's still bad. I swear, the $hit breeds when I'm not looking. I do not "shop" just to shop like I used to. I don't buy much of anything (other than the food and HBA that I stockpile, and that's pretty contained and organized, actually...) I just don't know where it all comes from or have the energy or motivation to deal with it. I have difficulty getting rid of things that were given to me, or that I feel are "useful" or "could be" someday. I, too, will keep a "back up" of something (coffee pot, toaster, etc...), ya know "just in case..." I also have trouble getting rid of something "I paid a lot of money for". The item I'm struggling with now is a big buffet/hutch. It's nice, I paid a lot for it, it's functional, but, it's really too big for my space and I just don't really want it anymore. The dog peed on the corner of it, so, I don't even feel it's appropriate to necessarily donate it. It cost almost 1K when I bought it...I totally emptied it out last weekend, and there it sits in my kitchen and my island, dining room table and all counters are totally piled with the crap that was stored in it cuz now I've gotta figure out what to do with it all..." It is just an ongoing, every day battle for me, one which I constantly feel I am losing...sigh...
|
|
upstatemom
Established Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 21:25:05 GMT -5
Posts: 286
|
Post by upstatemom on Jan 29, 2011 20:38:08 GMT -5
I am also trying to declutter, its a long process but keep reminding myself that it took awhile to bring the stuff in the house and it will take awhile to purge. One battle I fight is my Mom and my sister. They both are great bargain shoppers and will buy things that " I must have". Two years ago I finally said stop it, I am trying to clean out. I know I hurt their feelings but it had to stop I finally feel like I am making progress. My next major step is to bring my teen boys into the process. We need to go through thier things and box some forgotten toys up for donating. I am leaning towards to keeping thier legos for grandchildren in the far future. If they are organized in bins in the basement I will be happy for that clutter control.
|
|
mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,958
|
Post by mizbear on Jan 29, 2011 21:48:13 GMT -5
I feel like I am making some progress- I wrote down WHY I keep stuff. I don't have to worry about those reasons so there is no legitimate reason for me to be doing this. Then I started making a list of what needed to go first. I have started by carving out a comfortable study space and eating space without having to move everything around- even if I am couponing. I also have 3 bags of clothes to go to Goodwill on Monday. Yes- the mail lands on the table right now- bad Bear.
|
|
merryheart
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:39:53 GMT -5
Posts: 179
|
Post by merryheart on Jan 29, 2011 22:12:33 GMT -5
I had the three oldest grandkids here last night and for some unknown reason, I thought it would be a great idea of have the 2 oldest help me sort through the toys I keep here for them. Are you surprised that there was almost nothing that got thrown out? of course the granddaughter wanted to keep all of hers and just throw away her brother's. We did get stuff organized and put away and had a few storage boxes that can be re-purposed. I hope to get into the closet in that room tomorrow and get it all cleared out. (Had to wait until the porta-crib could be folded up to get to the closet.) I've got to get stuff sorted and passed on as we will be moving into DMIL's house in a couple of months.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 15, 2024 20:27:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2011 12:12:39 GMT -5
I am one of THOSE people... organized and decluttered (Don't hate!). I don't get junk mail anymore... and these are the things I did to eliminate it..... Catalogs: www.catalog choice.com Convenience checks: call the credit card’s customer service number Credit card offers: The national credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit offers. 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). General advertising: The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies for three years. When you register with this service your name will be put on a “delete” file and made available to direct-mail marketers. This will not stop all mailings, as some organizations do not use this Mail Preference Service. Go to www.dmachoice.org or copy and use the form on the back of my letter. There is a $1 fee for this service! Warranties: only fill out the pertinent information regarding your purchase on registration cards or company websites --------- And, if you'd rather do it by mail with your own letter, here's mine: insert date insert address To whom it may concern: We have been trying to reduce the amount of unsolicited catalogs and mail coming into our house. Please remove us from your mailing lists, and please do not pass our name and address along to others. Thank you very much! Your name Your address <<attach a copy of the mailing label here, or insert a scan of the mailing label>> ------------- Hope that helps someone!
|
|
mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,958
|
Post by mizbear on Jan 30, 2011 12:36:37 GMT -5
Thanks LuAnn!
|
|
Wisconsin Beth
Distinguished Associate
No, we don't walk away. But when we're holding on to something precious, we run.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:59:36 GMT -5
Posts: 30,626
|
Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jan 31, 2011 9:16:53 GMT -5
DH scrubbed the baby pen (it was in our flooded basement and then out in the garage until we could clean it) and now it's "encircling" the TV in the living room. So the coffee table is now behind the couch (once I'm convinced my active 15 month old can't get though the babypen thing, the table's going to the basement rec room. I'm afraid to tackle the toys in the living room. Part of the problem is that I truly don't know what is age appropriate anymore. DD is 2.75 and DS plays with her stuff AND the baby stuff. I think I need to suffer though this for another 6 months and then when he's almost 2 just pull all the baby toys.
|
|
ilovedolphins
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jan 31, 2011 10:56:31 GMT -5
Posts: 1,930
|
Post by ilovedolphins on Jan 31, 2011 11:30:02 GMT -5
I also have been hanging onto clothes in my closet that I can wear when I "may" lose 5 lbs or 3 inches of fat around the waist. But I have decided that if I ever lose the pounds that I can buy new stuff. I don't forsee me ever getting back in those clothes so might as well not hang on to them for the next 10 years.
|
|
ohmomto2boys
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 9:25:38 GMT -5
Posts: 1,008
|
Post by ohmomto2boys on Jan 31, 2011 13:34:37 GMT -5
I had a somewhat productive weekend. I have 2 bins of boys clothes to take to the resale shop. What they don't take, I will donate. I cleaned out the boys "craft" shelf and got it reorganized and the shelf above that was a "catch all" shelf. Put more stuff into the garage sale box. Little steps.....but it feels great to have that off my to-do list. I will tackle more this week.
|
|
cathysmom
Initiate Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2011 23:21:53 GMT -5
Posts: 62
|
Post by cathysmom on Feb 1, 2011 12:08:23 GMT -5
Constanz22 - Can I make a suggestion on what to do with your buffet/hutch since you are not sure if it can be donated? Why don't you put it on Craigslist as 'free'? I can almost guarantee that someone will come take it off your hands right away. Or you might even be able to get $50-100 for it. Just make sure to specify about the dog damage so that people know ahead of time. Good Luck!
|
|
steff
Senior Associate
I'll sleep when I'm dead
Joined: Dec 30, 2010 17:34:24 GMT -5
Posts: 10,772
|
Post by steff on Feb 1, 2011 13:50:02 GMT -5
Ooooh Constanz22, if I was closer, I'd so take the buffet off your hands. I have a large house and I collect china/crystal and already have 3 china hutches full.
|
|
ambellamy
Established Member
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 10:05:26 GMT -5
Posts: 458
|
Post by ambellamy on Feb 1, 2011 21:58:37 GMT -5
I also have been hanging onto clothes in my closet that I can wear when I "may" lose 5 lbs or 3 inches of fat around the waist. But I have decided that if I ever lose the pounds that I can buy new stuff. I don't forsee me ever getting back in those clothes so might as well not hang on to them for the next 10 years. For things like this, I'll maybe save the essentials that will make replacing my wardrobe a little cheaper.... Most of my tops will work one size up or down.... but when nice work slacks cost $40 a pop with my sisters employee discount... I'll save those because they don't go out of style-- black and hemmed for the vertically challenged. I have a size 6 (too small) in my closet on a shelf, and I got a new pair in a size 10 for Christmas... It was a little tight and now currently baggy, so if i drop a little more weight I'll have to get a size 8.... but If that happens, I'll probably hold on to the 10's just in case... but for other clothing items that aren't basic wardrobe staples i'll just donate them since most of my clothes are hand me downs from my shop-a-holic sister.
|
|
shelly527in
Established Member
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 1:10:18 GMT -5
Posts: 349
|
Post by shelly527in on Feb 1, 2011 23:30:11 GMT -5
I got this from Real Simple a few years ago and it made a huge difference in my closet. Take every article of clothing out of your closet and try it on. If it doesn't fit and is sellable, it goes into the Consignment shop pile. If it doesn't fit and is not sellable, it goes into the trash pile. If it does fit and does not need fixed (missing button, etc), it goes in the back into the closet pile. If it requires repairs, it goes into the repair pile. So at the end, you should have four piles, sell, trash, repair and back into the closet. You must repair the items before you put them back in your closet. For everything that goes back into your closet, put it in with the hangers facing towards you (aka backwards). That goes for the repair and closet piles. Then take the one pile to the trash or create rags with them and the other pile to the consignment shop. Next year, when you repeat the process, everything that is still with the hangers facing you and backwards can go straight to the consignment shop. If you haven't wore it in a year, you won't wear it in the next year. I started the year off with all my clothes like this. It really shows what you do and don't wear!
|
|
hopetoberich
Established Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 15:31:10 GMT -5
Posts: 403
|
Post by hopetoberich on Feb 2, 2011 0:26:41 GMT -5
I like this thread. I have read twice now and both times i spend 1 hour going through clutter and cleaning up after reading. I thought i would do just 15 minutes but got so much done i kept going. DH seems to keep old mail. I have been shredding it and the piles are going down.I was keeping grocery receipts but now i am putting them on a spreadsheet and will put my totals on the thread i made for January on this board. I also seem to bring home plastic grocery bags then want to keep them to reuse but that is just more clutter too. Maybe i'll sort those out now for 10 minutes and recycle them tomorrow.
|
|
upstatemom
Established Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 21:25:05 GMT -5
Posts: 286
|
Post by upstatemom on Feb 2, 2011 11:16:13 GMT -5
I also seem to bring home plastic grocery bags then want to keep them to reuse but that is just more clutter too. Maybe i'll sort those out now for 10 minutes and recycle them tomorrow. Solve that by buying reusable fabric bags!
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Feb 2, 2011 11:56:29 GMT -5
Plus with the re-usable ones a lot of stores now give you a nickle off your grocery bill.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 15, 2024 20:27:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2011 15:09:39 GMT -5
Plus with the re-usable ones a lot of stores now give you a nickle off your grocery bill. No one in my area does that....
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Feb 3, 2011 15:28:10 GMT -5
That's too bad. They do here, and the ones that don't I always ask and tell them "oh that's too bad, so and so gives me a nickel off a bag". It has swayed them in the past to give me my nickel discount.
Honestly I would be totally on board if my city outlawed those plastic bags. I don't shop at walmart often but when I have I swear they check you out at one item per plastic bag.
|
|
Wisconsin Beth
Distinguished Associate
No, we don't walk away. But when we're holding on to something precious, we run.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 11:59:36 GMT -5
Posts: 30,626
|
Post by Wisconsin Beth on Feb 3, 2011 16:00:13 GMT -5
I also seem to bring home plastic grocery bags then want to keep them to reuse but that is just more clutter too. Maybe i'll sort those out now for 10 minutes and recycle them tomorrow. Solve that by buying reusable fabric bags! See, that's the part I don't get. I'm supposed to PAY a company to buy a fairly cheaply made "green" bag that has their name on it and SAVES them in costs because they'll be using/buying fewer plastic/brown bags. So why aren't the stores giving them away or something? I should say that I've seen the "green" bags in stores around here for anywhere between $0.95-$7.95 depending on the store. The more expensive the bag seems to equal a better quality from what I can tell. As for how truly green they are made, I have no idea.
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Feb 3, 2011 16:19:20 GMT -5
Beth: Go shopping on Earth Day. The stores in my town were giving them away as part of earth day last year. I bought most of my at Trader Joe's for $0.99 each. They always give the discount so they paid for themselves in no time. I have had the same bags for 5 years, no rips or problems. I also picked some up at Ikea for like a buck- those rock.
I have no need for plastic bags. No kids to throw diapers out in those bags, no cat to scoop kitty litter into the bag, etc. For less than $10 in buying bags I have probably saved myself from using over 2,000 bags in the past 5 years. For the sake of the environment it was worth the $10 investment to me.
|
|
happyscooter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 5, 2011 9:04:06 GMT -5
Posts: 2,416
|
Post by happyscooter on Feb 4, 2011 7:42:57 GMT -5
I always kept things were given to me as a wedding gift. Even if it was broken. We had room in our attic so I could justify it. Some of the people who had given us these gifts had spent more money than I could imagine. It just meant alot that someone thought that much of me to spend $25 (which was big bucks 30 years ago). But one day I decided to let go and clean out my attic. And boy did I ever. I threw away the broken iron and gave away the magazine rack. Donated the canisters that I no longer used. I still felt bad.
|
|
mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
Posts: 3,958
|
Post by mizbear on Feb 4, 2011 12:19:12 GMT -5
My nieces are helping me declutter this weekend in exchange for homemade mac n cheese. I love it! If I could only get them to dust and do windows and floor- that costs a lot more.
|
|